Bento Gonçalves

Brazil's wine capital, with vineyards stretching across the Vale dos Vinhedos. Ride a steam train, walk the Stone Road, and experience the village charm of Italian immigrants.

Bento Gonçalves sits on the plateau and hills of northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, known as the Serra Gaúcha, about 120 km from the state capital, Porto Alegre. Settled by immigrants from northern Italy in the late 19th century, it is called “Brazil's Wine Capital,” since most of the country's premium wines and sparkling wines come from the surrounding area.

Core activities fall into three areas: to the west, the Vale dos Vinhedos, where wineries line the RS-444 highway, including Miolo and Valduga, where you can taste wine and dine; to the east, the Stone Road, which preserves immigrant stone houses and family workshops; and the steam train that runs through Garibaldi to Carlos Barbosa, with Italian singing and dancing on board. In town, you will find a city gate shaped like a wine barrel and the Aurora winery, which offers free tours. Farther out are the Thirteen Viaduct and the Our Lady of Caravaggio pilgrimage site.

Jan–Mar is the busiest harvest season. In autumn, the vineyards turn golden. Winter, Jun–Aug, can bring frost and is ideal for cozy wine tastings by the fireplace. From Porto Alegre airport, it takes about 2 hours by car or bus. Gramado is about 1.5 hours east by car. Plan to stay 2–3 days. Do not drive after drinking. You can book a day tour or hire a car and driver. Heavy flooding in May 2024 affected some roads and train services, so check conditions before you travel.

Top sights

• Vale dos Vinhedos – Brazil's first wine appellation of origin, with wineries spread across rolling hills. It is the most popular wine-tasting route in Rio Gran…
• Maria Fumaça Train (Trem do Vinho) – Ride a vintage steam train through wine country, with Italian immigrant songs and wine tasting on board. The route passes Garibaldi on the…
• Caminhos de Pedra – A rural route preserving stone and wooden houses built by 19th-century Italian immigrants. Visit farmhouses to see wool weaving, pasta maki…
• Miolo Winery – One of the largest wineries in the Vale dos Vinhedos, with vineyard tours, underground cellars and tastings, and a garden suited to picnics.
• Casa Valduga – A family winery famous for traditional-method sparkling wine, whose underground cellars, Italian restaurant and estate inn are a signature…
• Vinícola Aurora – Brazil's largest wine cooperative in the city center, with free tours of giant barrels and underground cellars followed by tastings.
• Vinícola Salton – A long-established Brazilian winery founded in 1910, with a large cellar and sparkling wine tours at its new plant in the Tuiuti district.
• Pipa Pórtico – A city gateway built in the shape of a giant wine barrel, the most famous photo landmark of the 'wine capital.'
• Garibaldi – The 'Sparkling Wine Capital of Brazil,' preserving old Italian immigrant streets and a railway station, and home to sparkling wine producer…
• Viaduto 13 – A high railway viaduct spanning the Antas River valley, about 143 metres tall and one of South America's tallest railway bridges.
• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravaggio – One of Rio Grande do Sul's most important Catholic pilgrimage sites, with an Italian-style cathedral and bell tower set in the hills of Far…

Where to eat

• Nona Ludia – An Italian colonial-style set meal served in an 1880s stone house on the Stone Roads route, with many reviews.
• Casa di Paolo – A local favorite small roast chicken restaurant famous for its galeto al primo canto set, located next to the wine-barr…
• Caldeira Restaurante – A popular dinner spot in the Upper Town, whose signature herb-braised beef shank in red sauce with creamy polenta is of…